The seven naturalised footballers at the centre of a controversy involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) are mulling legal action against the national football governing body following their suspension by Fifa.
Quoting sources, Harian Metro reported that the players were weighing their options after FAM acknowledged that an administrative error had led to their 12-month ban.
“It is understood that foreign lawyers are in discussion with the seven players to consider suing FAM for the technical error which the association itself has confirmed,” the unnamed source was quoted as saying.
The source said it was not surprising that the seven would sue FAM, considering that the suspension has affected their livelihood. In some cases, the footballers lost their jobs after their clubs terminated their contracts following the controversy.
“The move to seek compensation is also aimed at clearing their names so they can find new clubs once their suspension ends,” the source added.
On Sept 26, Fifa sanctioned FAM and the seven national players after FAM was alleged to have submitted doctored documentation to field them in an Asian Cup qualifier.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification.
The seven are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
All seven featured in Malaysia’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Vietnam on June 10, after which Fifa received a complaint regarding the eligibility of several of them.
Fifa said FAM and the seven players were sanctioned for breaching Article 22 of its disciplinary code, which relates to forgery and falsification.
FAM later blamed the sanctions on a technical error in the submission of documents by its staff.
On Nov 3, Fifa rejected FAM’s appeal against the sanctions imposed on the national football body and the seven players.
It also affirmed the imposition of the sanctions on FAM and the seven players “in its entirety”.
FAM has since said it may take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
It has been reported that Arrocha, also known as Gabriel Palmero, has been released by his club, Club Deportivo Tenerife, following his one-year suspension.
The termination of Arrocha’s contract by the Spanish second division club came a day after it was reported that third-division club Unionistas de Salamanca had terminated his loan to the club.
